CHAPTER 10: INSIGHT INTO THE GLOOMY FUTURE
As Ramie followed Lance back to the second floor, his expression was unnatural.
Just moments ago, as Lance held the unmoving Neil on his shoulder, Ramie noticed a bracelet around his wrist, similar to the one he had. It was like an exact replica!
He however kept quiet, not saying anything, as they were still in a critical situation.
He kept moving behind Lance, while questions upon questions crowded in his mind. Silently, they moved hurriedly back the apartment in the second floor.
…
After closing the apartment door and placing the petrified Neil on the rug in the living room; they finally breathed out in relief.
However, just in case something had heard the noise of the fight, they kept still for a while, listening to any noise that might indicate something getting into the building or this floor.
After a while, and without hearing anything, both of them let out a sigh of relief, finally picking up their breaths.
"How's his condition?" Ramie asked Lance.
"He's breathing! So, he'd be fine for now!" Lance answered, while a thoughtful look lingered on his face.
"Do you have an idea on what had happened with him? Could he have some sort of health condition…?"
Ramie asked the question that baffled him the most.
In the earlier confrontation with the creature, the eyes of the creature shone momentarily as it stared at Neil, and he was petrified ever since!
Ramie had a faint guess in his mind, but it was simply too absurd.
Thus, he wanted to know if Neil had some kind of a health problem or a rare condition that caused his current state before perusing that abnormal thought.
Although he wanted to believe that Neil had simply fell unconscious due to extreme fear or shock, however, Neil's still wide opened eyes rolled out this thought. After all, Ramie had never heard of someone losing conscious with his eyes wide open.
So, since Neil was with Lance when he first met them and remembering Lance's outburst to save him when the creature went after him, it was apparent that they knew each other well. So, he decided to inquire on the matter.
Ramie guessed that they were relatives or something. So, right now, if Neil had some sort of unique health problem, then Lanced was the one to ask.
Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be the case, as Lance shook his head in response, denying the idea immediately: "no! He's as healthy as one can get. His health isn't the problem here!"
Ramie fell in thoughtful silence, feeling gloomy in his heart. It was as he expected, as there was no other explanation.
'It had to be the creature's doing!!'
Ramie felt terrible at this thought.
The creature was already very dangerous. And now, adding this possibility; the situation became even worse.
A predator with such speed, as well as the ability to immobile its preys!
This was more than enough to claim sovereignty over the food chain among all the land animals!
To immobilize its preys with a simple stare?
What kind of concept was that!
It could simply petrify its preys and eat them with ease!
How could anyone resist such enemy!
If the creature had attacked one of them individually, or assaulted any of them before the others notice its presence, then death would be unavoidable!
So, what if there were other similar creatures lurking outside… or worse, inside the building?
His mood went bleak upon these thoughts.
Reaching this point of thoughts, he looked at Lance, thoughtfully.
His sudden burst of strength was unforeseen. And it had startled Ramie greatly.
Although he had heard of people pulling off amazing deeds in critical times; he did not believe that this was the case here.
The creature was strong, very strong… because when it ran away from Lance; it knocked any piece of furniture that was in its path away, as if their weights meant nothing. Also this creature was also very fast, inhumanly fast.
But Lance matched those aspects, both!
In fact he was actually even stronger than the creature, as when he chased after the thing; he smashed everything that was in his way in a manner far more exaggerated than what the creature did.
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He had moved like a rampaging bull, smashing everything in his path. And even the terrifying creature was horrified by him!
Ramie couldn't just believe that this was natural!
As he gazed at Lance intently, something unexpected happen!
Lv.1 Warrior
Life energy ignition: 15%
As the bracelet around on his wrist vibrated slightly, lines of information flashed in his mind, sending him in daze.
"This…"
"Wait… life energy!!!"
Like a bolt of lightning, a sudden thought thundered in his mind!
"The voice…!"
He remembered the voice saying something about 'magic artifact' and 'life energy,' and also on using these two things to fight the creatures!
And now! Out of nowhere! He received a bracelet that displays information directly to his mind. Not to mention Lance who displayed overwhelming, unnatural strength when he fought the creature!
And now, information appeared in mind out of nowhere!
Thinking to this point, He subconsciously looked at the bracelet on his wrist.
- Name: Ramie
- Lv.1 Magic Artifact (16%)
- Path: Bloodline Magician
- Class: Subterranean Ghost Tree (Special)
- Magic Energy: 9
- Innate Spell: Unknown
- Spell: Morphing (permanent) /inactive
Information appeared again after a slight vibration of the bracelet.
It was the same information as the one that appeared when the bracelet first showed up around his wrist out of nowhere.
More ever, it had the word 'magic artifact' in it.
Slowly, Ramie started making a connection in his mind.
He recalled the people saying that the voice mentioned something about unsealing or activating both magic artifacts and life energy, and that the people could use them to fight these creatures.
Reaching this point in thought, he looked at Lance again to make sure.
Lv.1 Warrior
Life energy ignition: 15%
It appeared again in his mind.
'The strength Lance had displayed in the earlier fight… could it be the mentioned life energy…? It should be…! Otherwise, what other explanation there is…?'
'The voice was right about the creatures… and he already mentioned the magical artifacts and the life energy…'
'And now, this bracelet appeared out of nowhere around my wrist…'
He felt that things started connecting together under one umbrella; and that was the voice!
Thinking to this point, he remembered Neil having a similar bracelet on his wrist.
He looked over at him.
- Lv.1 Magic Artifact (12%)
- Path: Elemental Magician
- Class: Fire Magician (Common)
As expected, another reading popped up in his mind after the vibration of his bracelet, albeit a bit different from the reading he got when looking at his own bracelet.
'It also says magic artifacts…!'
'It seems that these bracelets are really what the voice had called magic artifact'
Ramie felt things getting a bit clearer, finally starting to add up.
Feeling that some things started to make some sense, he felt a bit better, even though all what he had was a mere speculations.
So far, he had countless unanswered questions regarding everything that had happened lately.
But if these things could really be used to preserve their life, then it was more than worthy to figure out how to use them.
'The voice also said that these magic artifacts can be used to fight the creatures…'
'…If the strength and the speed Lance had displayed were really because of the life energy…? Then, what do these magic artifacts give?'
'So far, it only gives readings…'
Thinking up to this point, his curiosity was aroused.
He looked over at his wrist again, intently. Trying to use how can he use the thing.
- Name: Ramie
- Lv.1 Magic Artifact (16%)
- Path: Bloodline Magician
- Class: Subterranean Ghost Tree (Special)
- Magic Energy: 9
- Innate Spell: Unknown
- Spell: Morphing (permanent) /inactive
Information flowed to his mind, naturally. And he focused on these readings, processing them.
'lv.1… this is a game term! 16 percent…? What does this number stand for?'
'Magic energy: 9…? What does it mean?'
He went through the other pieces of information, but couldn't understand what they meant. Then, as he thought of the last paragraph, another line of information flashed across his mind.
< Spell: Morphing (permanent) /inactive >
< Effect: gaining the bloodline of the subterranean ghost tree! >
< Cast: yes/no >
"Spell...?! And I can cast it…?! "
Having the magic artifact react to him, he felt overjoyed.
He immediately wanted to say yes to see what would happen!
But he didn't. He calmed down, and started thinking things over.
He started having suspicions. If the voice was right, and this 'miraculous' bracelet can really enable him to survive, then it would be fine, and obtaining this bracelet was his good luck!
But… what if the voice was lying…?
It had to be said, that when he learned of the creature's assault after coming to the city; he was utterly shocked.
It wasn't something that one would normally think of, or consider.
To have savage creatures invade everywhere and annihilate everything?
Who had expected such a thing!
So, the idea that this was some sort of divine punishment for the human race had crossed his mind many times.
He even though that this was the end of the human race.
But now, Lance displayed amazing strength, and he acquired this magic artifact.
And if the voice was right about the fact that these things could be used to give the people a chance to survive; then, what was really happening?
Because, if this was a divine punishment, then what was the point of giving people means to resist it?
More ever, what are these magic artifacts exactly? How can they use magic? And who made them…?
As Ramie was occupied, lost in his thoughts, his thought process was broken by a sudden monstrous roar thundering outside.
ROARRR!!!
It was so intense that it even caused the windows to vibrate intensely.
Ramie froze in his place, not even blinking his eyes.
ROAAAAAAAARR!!!
It thundered again outside, and the windows vibrated even more intensely now.
Apparently, the source was moving closer and closer.
Ramie and Lance's eyes met, fear was reflected on both sides.
Neither of them wished to meet the thing capable of issuing this kind of rumbling sound.
SCREEEEETCH!!
A high pitch, piercing cry sounder outside, causing the two of them to cover their ears in pain.
Wooov! Wooooov!! Wooooovvv!
A loud, vibrating sound of flapping wings came from the outside!
It was as if the legendary roc bird was descending close by.
Ramie moved to the window, and pushed the curtain to the side slightly to create a small opening.
He peered outside, nervously. Lance too, came, and started looking outside the window through the opening Ramie made.
As Ramie peered outside, his complexion froze and his heart skipped a beat, as a paralyzing, frosting chill ran down his spine.
Till now, he always wondered on how could the well armed military lose to a creatures made of flesh and bone?
This thought however, vanished onto smoke at the moment!
For what he saw outside, redefined his most extreme imagination on what a monster should look like!
It was a titanic monstrosity! Far more terrifying than even the creature's corpses he witness on the load trucks back when he came to the city yesterday.
The creature was 5 meters high, 15 long, and 6 meters wide body!
It had a thick proportioned, armored body, with defensive, triangular-shaped bone plates covering its back, head, and its short legs. Its thick tail was filled with protruding, sharp spikes.
It looked like a living tank! A living war machine, designed for the sole purpose of destruction!
Staring at the creature, the magic artifact in his hand vibrated slightly, and information appeared in his mind.
Tier-4 Beast
Name: Earth Lizard
Innate Spells: Earth Tremor, Shock Wave
Special notes: A heavily armored creature that can use earth-type spells.
Ramie however was so terribly shocked that he didn't pay attention to it. He was too horribly overwhelmed by the sight ahead.
ROAAAAARRR!!
Standing at the end of the street, the creature roared furiously toward a certain direction.
SCREEEECH!!
The high pitched screech sounded again. Apparently, the armored creature was in a faceoff with another creature!
ROAAAAR!!
As Ramie and Lance stared, utterly shocked, the creature roared again, and then charged like a tank, disappearing behind the building at the end of the street.
RUMBLE!!
Rumble!!
Rumble!!!
Thunderous rumbles of the battle between the two creatures boomed again and again! Like a high-grade explosions!
All of the windows in the building and nearby buildings vibrated intensely, at the verge of shattering!
Objects started falling in the apartment one after another.
The entire building shock violently, as massive tremors rumbled successively, quacking the building nonstop.
The oppressive atmosphere generated by this intense, gargantuan confrontation gave Ramie the sense that the world was coming down on him.
Still looking outside, he couldn't see the creatures. But the flaying cars, dirt and the road pavement thrown from the corner of the street was enough to draw the picture of the frightening battle ongoing there!
Ramie also couldn't see the other creature. But the impact of the battle between the two titans implied an equally freighting creature to the one he saw.
The intensity of the battle was beyond imagination! The entire residential block quacked nonstop!
It was a clash of titans indeed!
ROAAAAR!!!!
SCREEECH!!!!
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
The battle went on for further few minutes before coming to an end, even though it seemed to have lasted hours and hours.
Unable to determine a winner, the two creatures parted ways, each taking a direction.
Ramie felt extremely bitter after seeing that sight.
The voice had said to use the life energy and the magic artifact to battle the creatures.
But seeing the scale of this fight, Ramie couldn't help but to wonder on how in the world could anyone resist that kind of destructive power, or even escape from it for that matter?
It was no wonder that the military failed to push these things back! Because, how could they?!
With such strength that could even bring down large portions of buildings to the ground, how was anyone supposed to survive facing such titanic monstrosities?
It made him feel endlessly insignificant…
Probably, any random fart from such creature could reduce him to dust.
…